Palm Bay officials are set to discuss Lannon's accrual request at their City Council meeting Thursday night. One issue likely to be discussed is if Lannon — who announced his resignation April 12 — "abandoned" his job by not giving proper notice.

If so, there could be an argument that he's not entitled to the accrued time he's seeking. The city, through its labor attorney, Andy Hament, said Lannon already has been compensated for the accrual time.

"I did not leave the city of Palm Bay voluntarily," Lannon told FLORIDA TODAY. "I was constructively discharged. My amended employment agreement was not going to be honored."

At one time, Lannon was seeking a $300,000 settlement offer; six months' worth of insurance coverage for his family of five; and indemnification from the city if Lannon was named in any litigation in which he was a named defendant.

“I've never once heard of a city or county of this magnitude end the recruitment process before it began. That didn't just happen by circumstance.”

Andrew Lannon

The situation with Lannon is the latest chapter of a political saga taking place in Palm Bay, Brevard County's most populous municipality. During the last few years, there have been resignations or dismissals of key personnel; charges of shoddy financial record-keeping; and an investigation involving the FBI and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

Triggering Lannon's resignation, he said, was the recent appointment of Eden Bentley as Brevard County attorney. That was a job Lannon for years had sought, and he became dismayed when he learned of Bentley's appointment without even a formal search process taking place.

Bentley replaced Scott Knox, who held the position for 24½ years. Bentley was assistant county attorney from 1986 to 2005, then became deputy county attorney.

I've never once heard of a city or county of this magnitude end the recruitment process before it began," Lannon said. "That didn't just happen by circumstance.

Lannon places much of the blame on Tres Holton, Palm Bay's deputy mayor who is up for re-election for a second term, for his problems with the city and not being considered for the county attorney's job.

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For years, former Palm Bay City Attorney Andrew Lannon publicly advocated to be the Brevard County Attorney. Now, he's without a job and planning to sue the city he worked for. GINNY BEAGAN/FLORIDA TODAY
Wochit

FLORIDA TODAY contacted the five Brevard County commissioners, and they denied Holton had any influence with Bentley's appointment. Two of the commissioners, Kristine Isnardi and John Tobia, said they voted against Bentley only because they wanted a broader search.

Tobia said it's very possible that Lannon, with his background and credentials, would have been a finalist if there had been a search process, but that doesn't mean he would have ultimately been named county attorney.

"He certainly would have gotten a strong look from me," Tobia said.

County Commission Chair Rita Pritchett recalls that Lannon came to her Titusville office in early 2017, shortly after she took office as a county commissioner, to discuss another matter. In the course of that conversation, "he said to me: 'I'm going to be your next county attorney.' "

Pritchett, though, said she didn't feel Lannon was lobbying her for the job.

"I just think he really wanted that job," Pritchett said.

Pritchett said she thought Lannon "seemed like a nice-enough guy," but Pritchett was comfortable with hiring Bentley as county attorney when Knox retired.

Lannon alleges that Holton told him numerous times "behind closed doors" that he would never get the county attorney job. Lannon also claims that Holton threatened that he would end Lannon's career with the city by not honoring his employment agreement.

Holton denied "Mr. Lannon's absurd false allegation," and provided FLORIDA TODAY with a letter he says he sent to U.S. Sens. Bill Nelson and Marco Rubio, endorsing Lannon for a federal judgeship. There was a similar letter to Florida Lt. Gov. Carlos Lopez-Cantera.

Lannon said the letters sent to the senators were penned by Holton begrudgingly — and only after the four other council members wrote a similar letter.

Lannon also doubts whether Holton actually sent the letters. FLORIDA TODAY was checking with Nelson and Rubio's office to see if Holton's letters were received.

Holton said Lannon thanked him in a note for the endorsement.

Holton also told FLORIDA TODAY in an email that Lannon's employment contract was inconsistent with the city charter.

"While I noted that his employment contract was executed by a prior City Council, I never stated it was not valid because of it," Holton said. "My greatest concern was Mr. Lannon's overbearing influence over assistant city attorneys, inconsistent with the city charter."

Baker Act motion

In the background of this employment dispute is Lannon's recent checking into a treatment facility and a subsequent Baker Act motion, also known as the Florida Mental Health Act.

It allows for the involuntary institutionalization and examination of an individual, and it can be initiated by judges, law enforcement officials, physicians or mental health professionals.

Lannon, who is 43 years old, said, on the advice of a fellow attorney, he voluntarily checked into Harbor Pines, a facility operated by Circles of Care, on April 17 for "generalized anxiety disorder" related to the stresses involving his job at Palm Bay City Hall.

Lannon believed he was ready to leave Harbor Pines on April 20, but a physician at the facility disagreed, and ordered him to stay an additional two days, using a Baker Act motion to keep him there until April 23.

But a Circuit Court judge denied his petition, in which Lannon sought to voluntarily leave the facility.

“I needed to go there and get mental health care to deal with all the stresses that have been caused in my life, primarily by Deputy Mayor Tres Holton," Lannon told FLORIDA TODAY, explaining his stay at the facility.

Holton's response to Lannon's mental health and his role was: "It seems that Mr. Lannon is and has been struggling with some personal issues. You may be aware of them. I do not think it is appropriate for me to comment further on those issues, but I trust that you will factor them into your report. My prayers are with him and his family.”